Interlocking building structure



R. O. SHELDON INTERLOCKING BUILDING STRUCTURE Sept. 4, 1945.

Filed Aug. 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 4, R Q SHELDON 2,384,198

INTERLOCKING BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 im la.:

6770EA!! Y,

Patented Sept. 4, 1945 INTERLOCKING BUILDING STRUCTURE Ralph 0. Sheldon, Kansas City, Mo., assigner to Emile S. Gulgnon, Jr., Kansas Ci ty, Mo.

Application August 24, 1942, Serial No. 455,831

8 Claims.

This invention relates to portable buildings of the type having interlocking parts, all capable of assembly at the point of erection without alteration.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an interlocking building structure of the aforementioned character that includes specially formed units held together and to a superstructure by unique coupling means, the character whereof enables clamping together the building units and securing said units to framework of different forms.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an interlocking building structure having portable units, including a frame capable of quick assembly and embodying parts combinable with a novel coupling assembly.

This invention has for a further aim to provide a complete building, constructed of parts capable of quick assembly and disassembly, and further, capable of being shipped from place-toplace in a minimum amount of space.

The present need for pre-fabricated buildings for airplane hangers, warehouses and living quarters is met by buildings made in accordance with this invention. Advantages and benets arising from structures embodying the invention will become apparent as the illustrated embodiment is understood from the specification describing the same.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of a building embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view thereof taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary, sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed, fragmentary sectional view taken on line IV--IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a stretch-out detailed perspective view. The buildings illustrated have walls, roofs,

oors and similar parts composed of a plurality of units l2, interlocked by a three-part coupling assembly which will later be described in detail.

Units i2 are each composed of a frame I4 strong enough to serve as the framework oi the building, while sheeting i6 closes each side of frame I4.

' The units i2 are preferably rectangular in form and each has a pair of shoulders i8 milled or otherwise provided along the edges thereof. These shoulders present inclined faces that are outwardly diverging. The portion of frame i4 at the edges of each unit i2 is. in short, made to have a bead therealong which is dove-tail in cross section.

The coupling assembly, capable of use between the edges of units l2, is composed of a pair oi.' opposed strips 20 (inner strip) and 22 (outer strip), and a number of tie members 24 Each strip (20 and 22), is grooved along its inner side to present a pair of outwardly dlverging faces engageable and complementary with shoulders i8 of the units I2. Strips 20 and 22 nt between the proximal edges of units i2, as illustrated, to establish a space for tie member 24. In the embodiment chosen to illustrate the invention, tie member 24 is a bolt.

When the building is to have units i: meeting at angles, such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the strips are specially formed to be wedge-shaped. In hanger construction (Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive), the shoulder of the arch 28 is negotiated without the use of parts other than above described.

The hanger or warehouse structure illustrated ln Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, is easily erected if pillow blocks 30 are secured to arches 26 to receive the ends of inner strips 20 in the manner shown in Figs. 3 and 5. In this instance, the frame I4 is not relied upon to directly support units i2, The arches 28 are iirst erected and then the wall or skin" is placed by mounting units I2 on the outer sides thereof through the medium of pillow blocks 30, secured at spaced intervals on the arches 26. The distance between pillow blocks 30 is substantially the same as the width of units I2 because a portion oi.' the adjoining units must overlie the blocks 30 to complete the assembly.

Each pillow block 30 has a groove or track 32 formed thereon along opposite edges to slidably receive tongues 34 on the ends of inner strips 20. Tracks 32 extend transversely of arches 26 and therefore, permit lateral movement of strips 20. When placing together a long series of units i 2, some adjustment is invariably needed to compensate for placement of arches in positions other than theoretically correct. Any variation in the distances between arches 26 will not disturb quick attachment of all members constituting the outer wall of the structure if pillow blocks 30 are used to hold strips 20.

No difculty will be experienced when applying units i2 so far as the horizontal edges thereof are concerned. Strips 2U and 22 may be as long as desired while strips 20 and 22 extending transversely over the arches will terminate in abutting relation with the vertical outer strips 22 and with pillow blocks 30 respectively.

When horizontal strips 20 and 22 are in position. a portion of the length of each inner strip 20 rests upon pillow blocks while tongue 34 of inner strip 20 holds the wall of units i2 in place.

Arches 26 are curved along a portion thereof joining the side and top parts, and wedge-shaped strips 20 and 22 are employed to hold units l2 at the proper angle (Fig. 2). The longitudinal edges of strips 20 and 22 lie in outwardly diverging planes and no further "iillers or structural elements are needed to establish a smooth outer face. Tie members 24, when manipulated, will draw strips 20 and 22 toward each other and in so doing, will draw the adjoining edgesoi the units I2 together as far as the strips permit. An air and water-tight joint is established, capable of sustaining the form of the wall of units i2, without loading the arches 28.

Quick assembly of large buildings is made possible where simple tie members, such as bolts, lag screws, or similar elements are used with the parts hereinabove described, and while the preferred embodiment of the invention has been made clear by illustrating preferred forms, it is to be understood that many modincations may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention. what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In a building of the character described, a superstructure; pillow blocks secured to the superstructure; a plurality of units arranged in edgeto-edge relation to form a wall or the like; and a coupling assembly between proximal edges f the units, said coupling assembly being slidably carried by the pillow blocks.

2. In a building of the character described, a superstructure; pillow blocks secured to the superstructure; a plurality of units arranged in edgeto-edge relation to form a wall or the like; and a coupling assembly between proximal edges of the units, said coupling assembly being slidably carried by the pillow blocks, said coupling assembly comprising opposed strips along the proximal edges of the units, and a tie member extending transversely through the strips.

3. In a building of the character described, a superstructure; pillow blocks secured to the superstructure; a plurality of units arranged in edge-to-edge relation to form a wall of the like over the superstructure; and a coupling assembly between the proximal edges of the units, the coupling assembly along at least one edge of each unit being slidably carried by the pillow blocks.

4. In a building of the character described, a superstructure; pillow blocks secured to the superstructure; a plurality of units arranged in edge-to-edge relation to form a wall or the like over the superstructure; and a coupling assembly between the proximal edges od the units, the coupling assembly along at least one edge of each unit being slidably carried by the pillow blocks, the coupling assembly along at least one other edge of each unit being in overlying relation with the pillow blocks.

5. In a building of the character described, a superstructure including a number of spaced apart arches, beams or the like; pillow blocks secured to the arches having tracks extending transversely across the arches; a plurality of units arranged in edge-to-edge relation to dorm a wall over the superstructure; and a coupling assembly between the proximal edges of the units, said units being formed to have at least one edge thereof meet an adjoining unit above one of the arches, the coupling assembly along the meeting edges of the units above the arches comprising opposed strips, shoulders formed on the proximal edges of the units engaged by said strips; and tie members adapted to draw the strips together and into tight engagement with the shoulders on the units, one of said strips being slidably engaged by the track of the pillow blocks on the underlying arch.

6. In a building of the character described, a superstructure including a number of spaced apart arches, beams or the like; pillow blocks secured to the arches having tracks extending transversely across the arches; a plurality of units arranged in edge-to-edge relation to form a wall over the superstructure; and a coupling assembly between the proximal edges of the units, said units being formed to have at least one edge thereof meet an adjoining unit above one of the arches, the coupling assembly along the meeting edges of the units above the arches comprising opposed strips, shoulders formed on the proximal edges of the units engaged by said strips; and tie members adapted to draw the strips together and into ltight engagement with the shoulders on the units, one of said strips being slidably engaged by the track of the pillow blocks on the underlying arch, said units each having a portion thereof extending above a pillow block to meet an adjoining unit, the coupling assembly along the meeting edges of the units above the pillow block comprising opposed strips, shoulders formed on the proximal edges of the units engaged by said strips and tie members adapted to draw the strips together and into tight engagement with the shoulders on the units.

7. In a building of the character described, a superstructure including a number ci spaced apart arches; spaced apart pillow blocks secured to the arches having tracks extending transversely across the arches; a plurality of units arranged in edge-to-edge relation to form a wall over the superstructure; and a coupling assembly between the proximal edges of the units, said coupling assembly comprising opposed strips having inclined faces formed thereon; and tie members adapted to draw the strips together, the edges of said units being provided with inclined faces complementary to the said inclined faces of the strips, all o1' said inclined faces being arranged to draw the coupled units together when the tie members are manipulated to draw said strips toward each other, one edge of each of said units being coupled to an edge of an adjoining uni-t above one of the arches, one of said strips of the coupling assembly along said edge being slidably engaged by two of the said pillow blocks.

8. In a building of the character described, a superstructure including a number of spaced apart arches; spaced apart pillow blocks secured to the arches having tracks extending transversely across the arches; a plurality of units arranged in edge-to-edge relation to form a wall over the superstructure; and a coupling assembly between the proximal edges of the units, said coupling assembly comprising opposed strips having inclined faces formed thereon; and tie members adapted to draw the strips together, the edges of said units being provided with inclined faces complementary to the said inclined faces of the strips, all of said inclined faces being arranged to draw the coupled units together when the tie members are manipulated to dralw said strips toward each other, each of two epposed edges of each unit being coupled to an edge of an adjoining unit above o'ne of said arches, one of the strips of the coupling assembly along each of the two opposed edges respectively being slid'- ably engaged `by two of the said pillow blocks, the coupling assembly along the remaining edges of each uni-t being independent of the pillow blocks and overlying the same, whereby relative 4rnovement between the arches and all of said units may occur in a direction transversely of the arches.

RALPH O. SHELDON. 

